CANADA NEPAL GENDER IN ORGANIZATIONS

Section II: NGO Capacity building for gender equality

13. Capacity Building during Conflict

CNGO was designed and began working in districts when the Maoist insurgency was only beginning to affect development. Consequently, it was not intended as a response to the conflict nor viewed as a peace-making project. Yet due to the nature of the project – working toward gender equality and empowering women – the project activities were able to support a positive contribution toward addressing social injustice at district level while also being able to continue most of the project activities.

A capacity building project, especially one that focuses on gender equality, needs continual on-site support – such as training and coaching – to promote the changes sought. Capacity building is not an approach that lends itself to a project delivery approach; i.e. send funds at regular intervals, receive reports and conduct periodic monitoring visits. Therefore during a conflict scenario, capacity building is more challenging, yet all the more necessary to promote social change, challenge inequalities and strengthen local ability to work effectively in this climate.

As the conflict escalated in scope and scale, adjustments were needed to ensure the safety of all participants. From inception, CNGO maintained a low profile in the district, with minimal office and staff quarters, and a collaborative working style with district people. Plans for staff safety were adopted, based on regular assessments of the security situation in each of the districts. Regular communication with the PNGOs helped assess whether conditions for learning events were appropriate or had to be postponed. Through discussions and growing experience on implementing projects and negotiating with the conflicting parties, the PNGOs developed confidence to continue their work. And CNGO learned ways to continue the capacity building. Flexibility was necessary.

Since CNGO was not a funding project, transparency was promoted and there were few resources to attract attention.